Are fire, police departments disbanding?

I had dinner with a friend tonight who told me that she has been told that, in January 2013, Lincoln will no longer have a police department and no longer have a fire department. That it is in the works for the public to find out about this in January.

I want to know if this is a vicious rumor or if it is the truth.

Sparky Parker, Lincoln

Editor’s note: In response to this letter, Mayor Spencer Short said, “This is absolutely a false rumor. Our community is well served by our hard-working police and fire personnel. There are no plans to eliminate either department at this time (and I would hope the council will not eliminate the departments in the future.